A few months ago, Keith Seabrook was adamantly cheering for the Chicago Blackhawks when they faced the Calgary Flames.

Made sense, since his older brother, Brent, is a big part of the Blackhawks.

Could he be feeling a little guilty now that he's become part of the Flames organization?

"No, I don't. It's family," he said with a laugh. "I didn't know this would be happening now."

Seabrook was acquired by the Flames yesterday from the Washington Capitals in exchange for future considerations. The deal does keep him in a similar situation, having spent the last two seasons with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen.

"I'm really happy about this," he said. "I don't think it could have worked out any better. There are a lot of familiar faces I know here, like Dave Lowry. Now that Dave Lowry's an assistant coach, it's a plus in my corner, I think."

Seabrook, drafted in the second round, 52nd overall, in 2006, has yet to sign a pro contract. When he does, he'll likely be ticketed for the AHL's Abbotsford Heat.

The 6-foot, 198-lb. blueliner from Delta, B.C., spent one season at the University of Denver before leaving to play with the Hitmen. In two years with Calgary, Seabrook collected 72 points in 123 regular season games and another 20 points in 32 playoff games.

"Coming to Calgary was good for me," he said. "I feel last season was the turning point for me. I feel I made a name for myself and a player out of myself.

"I think my biggest mistake was under-estimating the WHL after coming back from college, and that's when I got injured. It was a lot of ups and downs. My 20-year-old year, the past year, I think I stepped up, came out of my shell and got back to the game I played to get drafted."

Seabrook has been in Calgary for the last week for training purposes. Now, he doesn't have to travel to attend the club's upcoming summer prospect camp, which begins Monday.

He's one of 27 hopefuls expected to attend the camp, a group that includes three goalies, eight defencemen and 16 forwards. He joins a team with a long list of young blueliners either in their first pro season or having just a couple of years in the professional ranks under their belts.

"It's exciting. I'm happy to go in and compete for a spot in the next camp," he said.

"I'm going to focus on what's at hand, and that's the camp coming (next week), and after that, what happens, happens."

The prospects camps opens with an on-ice session Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the Saddledome.

It runs through Saturday, and all on-ice sessions are open to the public.